Morecambe Branch Line
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| Morecambe Branch Line |
| Principal stations (West Coast Main Line) |
The Morecambe Branch Line is a railway line from Lancaster to Morecambe and Heysham where services connect with the ferry service to Douglas on the Isle of Man. To reach Heysham, trains must reverse at Morecambe.
Passenger services are currently operated by Northern Rail. Most services operate as a shuttle between Lancaster and Morecambe, continuing to Heysham only to connect with ferry services. These services primarily use Class 142 or Class 153 diesel multiple units . A few services continue beyond Lancaster to Skipton and Leeds, and generally use Class 150 or Class 156 units.
The line also sees freight traffic, operated by Direct Rail Services, which serve the nuclear power station at Heysham.
[edit] History
The line represented an incursion of the Midland Railway into what was essentially LNWR territory. It was used for an early trial of electrification - opened between 13 April 1908 and 14 September 1908 using 6600 V AC at 25 Hz. Following rail nationalisation it was again used in 1952 as a trial site for electrification at 25 000 V 50 Hz, the standard subsequently adopted for the whole of the British Rail network.
